"We, the players of the Icelandic women’s national handball team, believe it is important to share our experience after having played two playoff matches against the Israeli national team this week. It is time for the international sports movement – and sports authorities in Iceland – to reassess their stance on Israel’s participation in international competitions while their military operations in Gaza continue.

Playing two international matches against Israel was not an easy decision for us. We were faced with a challenge we had never encountered before: to compete against representatives of a state responsible for the deaths of countless innocent civilians – or to refuse to participate, thus allowing the Israeli team to advance. We chose to play – because we wanted to see the Icelandic flag at the World Championship, not the Israeli one.

It is neither normal nor acceptable for a national team to have to play two matches behind closed doors, arrive under police escort, and worry about their safety both on and off the court. We want to play handball with passion, for our country – but we also want the conditions we are asked to play under to align with the fundamental values of sport: peace, respect, and solidarity. For these values, and the rules of international sports federations intended to uphold them, to retain their meaning, it is fair to ask: Why is Israel still allowed to participate in international competitions?

We urge the Icelandic Handball Association (HSÍ) and the National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland (ÍSÍ) to share our experience with the relevant international federations and to call for Israel to be banned from international sporting events while their military actions continue. We want our voices to be heard – as sportswomen, as representatives of Iceland, and as human beings. We stand united in the hope that our stance will contribute to changes that reflect the human dignity that sports are meant to represent."